Chicago Bulls: 2009 NBA Draft

- We’ll update our Team
Capsules with more specific info once the lottery is complete.

Chicago Bulls

2008-09 Record: 41-41; 2nd
Central

Draft Picks: 16, 26

Key Free Agents:

Ben Gordon

Aaron Gray (Restricted)

Lindsey Hunter

Jerome James (Player Option)

Linton Johnson

Projected Roster:

PG: Derrick Rose

SG: John Salmons

SF: Luol Deng

PF: Tyrus Thomas

C: Joakim Noah

Key Bench: Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller,
Tim Thomas

How they got here and what they
need:

A single ping pong ball changed the
future of the Chicago Bulls organization last May, providing the Bulls with the
number one overall pick. The Beasley-Rose debate soon ensued, with Derrick Rose
(rightly) becoming the pick. After a very impressive first season in which he
was named Rookie of the Year, Rose has put himself in position to join Chris
Paul and Deron Williams as the best point guards in the league. With their
franchise superstar now in place, the Bulls look to solidify their supporting
cast.

2008-09 was a crucial year for Tyrus
Thomas, Joakim Noah and Ben Gordon. Thomas had spent two years without emerging
as the full-time acrobatic superstar he was expected to be when they traded for
him on draft day in 2006. While he’s not a superstar, he’s certainly now a
reliable starter who should average about 14 points and 8 rebounds next year.
The first half of Noah’s season was hard to watch, but by the end of the year he
was playing like a top 10 pick should. He still needs to add muscle (10-15
pounds, minimum), however he may have solidified his future as the Chicago Bulls
starting center. Ben Gordon had a strong year, but may be headed out due to his
refusal to sign any of GM John Paxson’s offer sheets. Whether he will be allowed
to walk or will be dealt in a sign-and-trade remains to be seen.

The big trade right before the
trading deadline filled some of the teams needs. If Gordon does in fact leave,
John Salmons will assume his spot as the starting shooting guard. Kirk Hinrich
provides excellent relief for Rose at the point, and the front court is backed
up by Brad Miller and Tim Thomas. This team is still lacking some bench support,
which was evident by the fact the roster was only going 7 deep the last week of
the regular season.

Who they take:

The Bulls don’t have a lottery pick
for the first time since 2005. In a relatively weak draft class, this means you
don’t know who’s going to be around at the Bulls’ picks. The key for GM John
Paxson is to not try to hit a home run with a project and find the bench support
his team is going to need for future playoff runs. A lot depends on how the
Bulls handle their offseason moves. If Hinrich is traded, there will be a big
void at the backup point guard position. A player like VCU’s
Eric Maynor would
be a great fit as he’s the most seasoned and effective true point guard in the
draft, and could slide a bit as teams target the draft’s better athletes earlier
in the first round. Should the Bulls decide to focus on the front court, a
player like Pitt’s
DeJuan Blair makes a lot of sense as he can provide both rebounding and
post play. The Bulls look unlikely to draft a center, as they made a draft day
trade last year to acquire the rights to Turkish center Omer Asik, and all the
center prospects after
Hasheem Thabeetare
major projects.

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About Jason Hirschhorn

ColumnistIllinois Basketball UGroup Editor

ContactFreakyj7@yahoo.com

Background

Jason Hirschhorn is a freelance journalist based in Champaign, Illinois. Jason has attended the University of Iowa, and is currently a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to his work on this site, Jason has written on football popular music and football for the List-Universe and has had his work appear on Ultimate-Guitar.com and OneThirtyBPM.com